Israel rejects appeal of Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike

Khader Adnan, who was arrested for being a member of the Islamic Jihad, has been on a hunger strike for 58 days to protest what he says is humiliation that he faces in Israel's military justice system.

An Israeli military court on Monday rejected an appeal from a Palestinian man on hunger strike for 58 days to have his jail term reduced, officials said.

Lawyer Mahmoud Hassan said a military court judge refused the appeal and that his client, Khader Adnan, will be detained until May 8. A military spokeswoman confirmed the ruling and said Adnan will be expected to carry out the full four-month sentence. The spokeswoman spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

Adnan is a member of the militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad. He is on a hunger strike to protest what he says is humiliation that he faces in Israel's military justice system. He is in poor condition and under guard at an Israeli hospital.

Adnan is being held in "administrative detention," under which an Israeli military judge can imprison Palestinians for six-month periods without charge. Palestinians don't get to see evidence against them.